OK... the year is almost over, both as far as the calendar goes and as far as the Bible Study goes. Only a few Books remain, and we skipped ahead and read Revelations last month. I was looking for answers, but found only more questions. I am leaving my studies with my faith intact, not because of of the Bible, but in spite of it. I have my faith because it works for me. I have chosen to trust God, and God continues to be there for me.
Please don't misunderstand. My time spent with the good book was not wasted. I learned many things historical, procedural and theological, interesting facts and disturbing revelations. There were also some very cool one-liners. Try this one: 'God doesn't love you because of who you are, but because of who God is.' Or, as I paraphrase, 'You can do anything you want to do, but some of those things are not good for you.' How wise must we be to make that one work?
The days are short, and Mother Nature gathers her chicks under her ample breast to await yet another Spring. Find a warm place to renew and refresh. Settle in with a cup of hot chocolate and press your nose against the cold window. Watch the quiet.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
WTF, over?
Just prior to the beginning of the year, the Pastor for my church invited all to read through the Bible in a year. There are weekly meetings to discuss our readings, and a detailed schedule to follow so everyone is on the same page, so to speak. The S.O. and I thought this would be a good thing to do. We would be able to have meaningful discussions about our readings as we ventured through the Word together.
The year is almost halfway over now, and the S.O. bailed on the Bible program two months ago leaving me to draw my own conclusions. (She still finds time for Criminal Minds tho) The point, however, is that I embarked on this venture as a path to deepen my convictions and my faith, to really learn about Christianity and the roots of my religion. Now, mind you, I have read the entire New Testament, and bits and pieces of the Old, but never actually went through chapter and verse, all the way. What I am learning so far is more scary than enriching. The things I hear my fellow Bible Students say are just as disturbing.
The God of the O.T. is inexplicable at best; kind and loving in one instance, vicious and unforgiving in the next. I am confused by what appears to me to be competitions amongst the Gods, examples of rogue Gods who seem to be trying to set up shop to vie for the adoration and sacrifices of us mere mortals and commands to 'devote to destruction' indigenous peoples that go beyond genocide. Violent stuff that is in total opposition to what I had had come to believe is the Christian way. WTF, over?
People meet God one day and are given instructions, then meet God again soon after and God seems to have forgotten what He originally asked of them. Time and time again there are episodes where God appears to take vacations, ceasing to respond or outright forgetting about humanity, only to show up again in a hundred years, recharged and ready to go some more. Again I say, WTF, over?
If my neighbor was sacrificing animals on an altar in the backyard, or even in some secluded temple, splashing blood on the altar, harvesting organs and burning flesh, well, I'd be concerned. Yet this was de rigeur back in the day. Required. Don't leave home without it. Wouldn't we be mumbling words like 'pagan' and 'satanic' and 'cult'? Many of our Churches still have Altars, remnants, I guess.
One of my classmates asked if the reason we had illness in the world wasn't because of the sinful character of man. Didn't we bring these miseries on ourselves because we are so wicked? Which, of course, opened up the discussion about why God allows pain and suffering; why God lets babies die and lets children get Leukemia and lets there be wars and lets the Muslim Extremists destroy good Christians. Whose side is He on anyway? If He won't save our children and our American Way of Life, what good is he? Again, WTF, over?
Maybe the answers are in the next chapter, ya think?
The year is almost halfway over now, and the S.O. bailed on the Bible program two months ago leaving me to draw my own conclusions. (She still finds time for Criminal Minds tho) The point, however, is that I embarked on this venture as a path to deepen my convictions and my faith, to really learn about Christianity and the roots of my religion. Now, mind you, I have read the entire New Testament, and bits and pieces of the Old, but never actually went through chapter and verse, all the way. What I am learning so far is more scary than enriching. The things I hear my fellow Bible Students say are just as disturbing.
The God of the O.T. is inexplicable at best; kind and loving in one instance, vicious and unforgiving in the next. I am confused by what appears to me to be competitions amongst the Gods, examples of rogue Gods who seem to be trying to set up shop to vie for the adoration and sacrifices of us mere mortals and commands to 'devote to destruction' indigenous peoples that go beyond genocide. Violent stuff that is in total opposition to what I had had come to believe is the Christian way. WTF, over?
People meet God one day and are given instructions, then meet God again soon after and God seems to have forgotten what He originally asked of them. Time and time again there are episodes where God appears to take vacations, ceasing to respond or outright forgetting about humanity, only to show up again in a hundred years, recharged and ready to go some more. Again I say, WTF, over?
If my neighbor was sacrificing animals on an altar in the backyard, or even in some secluded temple, splashing blood on the altar, harvesting organs and burning flesh, well, I'd be concerned. Yet this was de rigeur back in the day. Required. Don't leave home without it. Wouldn't we be mumbling words like 'pagan' and 'satanic' and 'cult'? Many of our Churches still have Altars, remnants, I guess.
One of my classmates asked if the reason we had illness in the world wasn't because of the sinful character of man. Didn't we bring these miseries on ourselves because we are so wicked? Which, of course, opened up the discussion about why God allows pain and suffering; why God lets babies die and lets children get Leukemia and lets there be wars and lets the Muslim Extremists destroy good Christians. Whose side is He on anyway? If He won't save our children and our American Way of Life, what good is he? Again, WTF, over?
Maybe the answers are in the next chapter, ya think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)